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Author: Lois Nicholson

Clickety Clack: a railway poem

Lois Nicholson’s poem highlights the contribution made by women workers on the railway when the men went to war. Fast forward to the present day, and women are still fighting for equality.

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This article belongs to the Women and Scottish Railway History Collection

Faceless women facing forward against a brick wall


 


A women worker on the railways, first world war, sitting in front of a cargo vehicle, uniform, wearing a cap and smiling.Clickety Clack Clickety Clack

The rhythm of the railway track.
With all the men folk off to war.
It’s women left to do the chores
Corsets and skirts are cast aside
Whistles, trousers, gold buttons worn with pride.

Clickety Clack Clickety Clack

The rhythm of the railway track
With the call to men to leave to fight
The women called to show their might
Engineers, cleaners, tickets and porters
The railway calls on Britain’s daughters.

Clickety Clack Clickety Clack

The rhythm of the railway track
The platform buzzes with soldiers’ chatter.
Leaving wives behind to do the jobs that matter
With hopes and fears of loved ones returning
Women left to keep the home fires burning.


Three ladies, two on ladders, cleaning a train. One is looking at the camera and smiling.Clickety Clack Clickety Clack

The rhythm of the railway track
Painting, cleaning, tickets please!
Women doing men’s work with ease
Working hard until the men return
Lower wages she would earn.

Clickety Clack Clickety Clack

The rhythm of the railway track
A trade union they could join that day
With hopes for equal rights and pay
Women’s names recorded in red pen
Erased when men returned again.

Two ladies moving cargo at the rail station during the first world war. Looking at the camera, smiling.Clickety Clack Clickety Clack

The rhythm of the railway track
And when the war is won
The men return, their work is done
The women resign their roles to men
Until they’re called to arms again.

Clickety Clack Clickety Clack

We can’t work now the men are back.

Lois Nicholson


 



The fight continues


On 10 October 2022, 107 years after the National Union of Railwaymen voted to allow women to be members of the Union for the first time, women stood proudly alongside their male colleagues on picket lines across Scotland. This was something that would have been unimaginable generations ago. Having voted to go on strike to fight for fair pay and working conditions, Scotland’s railway was brought to a virtual standstill. Although there are now many more women working on the railway, it is still a male dominated industry in Scotland. There are an increasing number of women joining the rail Unions and playing an active prominent role. By using our vote our voices can be heard and we can campaign and help to inspire other women to create a fair and equal workplace for the future.

I was involved in the strike action on 10 October 2022. It was quite an emotional day for us as, despite always having been Union members, we had never been on strike before. We were all feeling very proud and were very aware of what a journey it has been for women to get to the stage where we can vote and participate in a picket line. So here we are, women on the railway still making history.

hLois Nicholson (author), Vicky Robinson and Heather Watson-Gordon on the official RMT picket line at Helensburgh Central Station.


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